IAF Chief Casts Doubts on China's Recent 6th-Gen Jet, Citing Just Flight Testing An Airframe Can't Define A Jet's True Capabilities

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has expressed serious doubts regarding recent Chinese claims of having flown a sixth-generation fighter jet.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2025, the Air Chief Marshal emphasized that simply achieving flight with a new airframe is insufficient to categorize an aircraft as a true sixth-generation fighter.

Earlier this year, reports originating from Chinese state media outlets and aviation publications suggested that the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) had successfully completed the first flight of a sixth-generation fighter prototype.

These reports, often accompanied by limited visual evidence and ambiguous details, fueled speculation about China's rapid advancement in aerospace technology and its ambition to surpass other global powers in the development of next-generation air combat capabilities.

China's progress in military aviation is notable, with the J-20, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, already in service, and other advanced platforms reportedly in development.

However, Air Chief Marshal voiced strong reservations about the validity of these claims. "Many have doubts on the Chinese sixth-generation fighter claim that was allegedly flown earlier this year and what all capabilities it has," he stated, suggesting a need for a more rigorous assessment of the aircraft's capabilities.

He highlighted the need for caution, stressing that a sixth-generation aircraft must possess a full spectrum of advanced capabilities beyond merely taking to the air.

While a universally accepted definition of a sixth-generation fighter jet remains elusive, as no such aircraft is currently in operational service worldwide, Air Chief Marshal explained that "just having an airframe flying is not good enough—it should have the capabilities." Experts generally agree such an aircraft would likely incorporate features that allow for gaining significant advantage.

Air Chief Marshal's skepticism implies that China's alleged sixth-generation prototype may not yet possess the complete set of characteristics typically associated with this next level of fighter technology.

The lack of verifiable information regarding the aircraft's systems, performance data, and overall integration raises concerns that the claim may be premature, potentially serving more as a strategic propaganda than a demonstrable technological leap. The development of advanced fighter aircraft is a complex and lengthy process, and true sixth-generation capabilities are expected to represent a paradigm shift in aerial warfare.

 

[sanket]

Airframe flying with a 4th Gen Engine, no sensors, or weapons. The engine, too, is not perfected. Even Pakistan is not interested in integrating that engine in the JF-17 fighter jet, which tells the story. In fact, Pakistan wants to integrate a Russian engine in the Russian-designed, Chinese-built JF-17 fighter jet, which is painted with green colour and the nuts and bolts tightened in Pakistan.

 

[Sunny]

Even if there are doubts about the 2 jets being 6th generation, there should be no doubt about them being 5th generation at least, likely solving any shortcomings of J-20 and J-35. We should accelerate our AMCA and go for either SU-57 or F-35 and scrap MRCA. Though SU-57 stealth might not be as good as F-35, the F-35 is still not offered as part of any deal. The Chinese also did not wait for a perfect stealth jet and inducted gradual increase in stealth capability. The AMCA is still at least 2 decades away from being inducted in meaningful numbers and we will need a stealth jet to hold our adversaries till then.

 

[swatkats_razor]

The proper thing would have been if he would have cast sceptism around ADA/HAL's tall claim on the status of Tejas Mk-2 and AMCA projects.

If anything, there are actual doubts surrounding feasibility of both these projects.

 

[P2S2]

Yes caution is warranted. Such jumping the gun assertions can be used as a marketing tool to wrench out orders for their present planes. The mid east is probably the target to help finance future Chinese technologies. We are familiar with the pathways of SU57. SU75 is still mostly on the drawing board. What we probably are hearing about is planned abilities. Facts are there's a frame that can fly that is a accomplishment. Filling it up won't be much of a problem. Quality of what it can muster should at the very least be assumed to be what is presently out there. Nevertheless it requires a lot of thought.